Luckie - Home Alone: Graze or Hunt?

This Thursday morning is a hazard zone at our household. Like Sundays, Luckie will be spending a lengthy time alone. We both have various appointments during the same time period of six hours.

Despite her usual congenial disposition, "home alone" provokes a different aspect of her personality. I think she suffers from separation anxiety complex or just plain boredom.

She empties trash and garbage cans, chews up the Kleenex tissue box or her soft, fuzzy toys, and steals/eats anything that might be construed as food, like half or whole loaves of bread, Parisian donuts, frozen meatloaf, candy, or anything left within her ability to grab.

She once emptied a trashcan we keep near our coffee makers for filters and grounds. I've never figured how she did that, as its cover is step lever actuated. She shook the filters with grinds in such a manner as to cover nearby cabinets, walls and floor with coffee grinds. It must have been a lot of fun...for her. It was no fun cleaning up for me!

Our vet has advised giving her sedatives; we bribe her with a heavy serving of her favorite dog treats before we leave. I think we have that backwards -doggy treats only if she leaves the house intact!

She instinctively knows when we are leaving; she goes and sits in front of the cabinet where her treats are stored. We are shamed into giving her treats--guilt complex in full mode.

Today I hope the chipmunks [ground squirrels] and red or gray squirrels attract her attention and occupy her time. They have made their spring appearance in reduced numbers as their habitats have been diminished. We have less trees and vegetation since the 100 year ice storm.

She loves to hunt and show us her trophies, sometimes bringing them through her doggy door into the house for display. YUCK!

However, it is raining; Luckie is deluded , thinking she is made of sugar - might melt and dislikes water. Maybe she will choose a long nap in her favorite lift recliner.

Saga of The Computer from Hell (CFH), Purchase, Problems, Part 1

Luckie does not like this saga as the frequent trips described, resulted her her being boarded at the local veterinarian kennels which she dislikes.

The saga includes references to a big box store and an internationally known computer manufacturer. After reading an article in the NEW YOUR TIMES, the big box store will be named BBS and the computer manufacturer, CM.

[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/business/media/16dominos.html?th&emc=th].

In October, 2007 I decided my husband needed a new desktop computer to replace one I built prior to Windows XP version and upgraded to XP. Nothing was wrong the home-built version, except it was not VISTA compatible. (After two years of Vista this purchase was doomed from the start!)

In this time frame we had frequent appointments at the VA hospital in Little Rock (LR), Arkansas [300 mi. round trip] for my husband's medical problems.

I ordered a slim computer from BBS's website to be delivered to BBS's retail store in LR. The slimmed down model's small footprint seemed ideal for my husband's computer nook with limited desk real estate.

At pickup I purchased an in-store 2-year warranty extension/maintenance agreement and memory upgrade, approximate total price, $600. The warranty extension/maintenance agreement was an in-store subcontractor service.

So far, here are lessons learned from mistakes, #1, #2 and #3 in this story:

1. Never buy a new model on-line without intense research.
2. Never purchase an in-store warranty when you are 300 mi. round trip away from store.
3. Read fine print and ask seemingly stupid questions, like if defective, can I ship it to store.

We made this trip in one day, arriving home late evening, so we did not unpack the CFH until the next day. When we did, the DVD-CD ROM recorder/player was defective, the insertion door did not open; it did not initialize on boot.

Frequent long-distance phone calls to the BBS were fruitless; I was told I had to return it to the store for exchange, another 300 mi trip.

Fortunately, my husband had another appointment at VA; we planned a 2-night stay at a motel. I exchanged the unit; the warranty extension/maintenance agreement was transferred to new unit.

At this point estimated costs of our motel and Luckie's boarding, 300 mi. of fuel (not counting original purchase), long distant phone calls, and dining equaled or exceeded the original purchase. I am beginning to seethe.

The saga only gets worse.

Watch for Part 2.

Morning Coffee Routine Frustrations

It seems age makes simple tasks, originally automatic zombie functions, require more alertness... like the morning coffee-making duties and Luckie's breakfast.

Lately I've awakened earlier than Luckie's wake-up clock. Today the coffee routine was filled with booby traps. We have different coffee preferences around here. My husband wants a 6-cup pot to drink all day--black with no additives. Ugh! By afternoon it is too bitter for me. I prefer coffee made one cup at a time with Splenda sweetener and 1/2 cup fat-free milk, or 3 tsp. Lite Carnation Coffee Mate.

The household has two coffee makers, a multi-cup and one cup. This morning I messed up the routines so both had grinds in the finished product-Yuck! I had to strain both brews.

Further, the carafe for the multi-cup coffee maker was not placed correctly under the drip basket, so it deposited part of the coffee and grinds on the warming burner and counter--a messy clean up.

Meanwhile Luckie is awake, pacing the room for morning buffet-doggy style. She has memorized my routine, and knows she is fed after I finish preparing and pressing the start button of the one-cup coffee maker.

Today, the mess of the multi-cup coffee maker required immediate attention. She went back to bed in frustration. As soon as I rattled her soft cheese bites bag (used to disguise her morning medicines) she came running, dancing and prancing for her buffet. All is forgiven. That's why I love dogs!

Shopping Frustrations & Luckie's Treats

Wednesday, I set out for the nearest shopping mecca, 17 miles from my small Ozarks home. Replacing three rooms of carpet, and new trees headed my list and a trip to Wal-Mart.

At the flooring outlet, my usual cheerful, friendly co-owner was ill. I had to deal with her husband who tried to sell me everything, except what I wanted---Berber carpet. I patiently let him try to sell me everything he had in stock, a somewhat meager selection, and every kind of carpet pad he had. I finally said, "No, I want Berber for all three rooms."

Then I was told the carpet installer, who lives near me, and used previously, is no longer on their list of sub-contractors. However, the owner added I was free to buy the carpet and use any installer I wanted. I finally left with samples and total cost estimate--just no warranty since I would not use their sub-contractors.

Then I stopped at large home improvement chain store, Lowe's, to look at plants with the prerequisite someone else would plant them. No help there. Later I stopped at a nursery which informed me the practice of offering to plant and warranty trees had been discontinued by all but two nurseries.

GRRRRR...why do businesses offer services and merchandise, but when I am ready to use or buy them, they have been discontinued?

After two rebuffs, I headed to Wal-Mart for groceries and general merchandise. Luckie likes Pedigree products (guess she dreams she is a pedigree--how delusional can she be!)

Since her breath is a tad fowl, their Breath Busters were a staple in her treat cupboard. Now Wal-Mart has discontinued those in favor Good Bites for Oral Care, not nearly as big and more expensive, comparatively speaking!

Two Breath Busters 17.5 oz. (about 30 pieces = 15 servings) vs. 10 Breath Bites 5 oz (45 pieces = 4.5 servings): seems like another marketing strategy: higher price for less return.

Pedigree's web site shows Breath Busters still listed as a product in their line.

The grocery section still had Pacific Rose Apples, an apple only available in my area for a short season, but no tangerines--I guess season is over for tangerines. so will try a tangelo. All fit in my WW program. [This morning was weekly WW weigh-in on line and surprisingly one additional pound lost for a total of 19 pounds.]

In Wal-Mart I always run into friends; today was no different, so at least there were a couple of positive moments today!

P.S. I have to return carpet samples next week when Luckie is due a Phenobarbital blood level check. Hope my friendly co-owner lady is back-to-work!

Rambling with Luckie

Luckie decided I should arise early after a difficult Friday, so I made the coffee and fed her; she promptly went back to bed--her mission accomplished.

So I have finished my coffee, while reading my favorite news sites, e-mails and blogs. Now I am mulling and stewing over the difficult Friday which involved, in my opinion, the difficult side of small town politics, and involved dismissal of a volunteer without transparent cause! Ah--I am adopting our new President's vocabulary!

But the day ended nicely with a fish-fry and a computer request at our closest friends' house. And I was able to put the meal in my Weight Watcher diet, because she provided me the menu and scale ahead of time. Isn't that considerate? Normally fried fish is a no-no, but advanced planning allowed it.

Our anticipated trip to Texas is postponed after several long conversations with my half-brother who really appreciated the concern and attention from me and my husband. The trip is what we call "in limbo" for now.

Since the weather is unsettled, today is designated "stay at home" and enjoy it, with many neglected chores awaiting my attention.

Maybe, I'll even plan and cook a balanced, hot meal---I dislike cooking and most duties associated with home which I attribute to my 36 years' in the job force. My husband does help me, especially with outdoor chores.

I achieved one small goal this week-Luckie received her monthly "beauty treatment"-Bath, nail trim, ear clean, etc. and came home with a lovely yellow neck bandanna, looking ready for spring.

Now that the rest of the household is up and moving, so must I.....

Luckie's nickname: Meatloaf

One comment requested I regale the tale how Luckie acquired her nickname, MEATLOAF.

Luckie's life before becoming a shelter dog is mostly unknown: she had a least two litters of puppies, one of which accompanied her to the shelter; she was approximately 2.5 years old; she had been abused by a man, according to the woman surrendering her and her litter to the shelter. I think she may have run loose, hunting, perhaps a need to provide for her litters.

She was somewhat underweight when we brought her home, but that soon was remedied!

One day when I was particularly busy, I put half a frozen aluminum-wrapped meatloaf on the kitchen counter to thaw for supper. My husband and I went somewhere for only a brief period of time and returned. I did not turn my attention to preparing supper until some time later.

When I went to the kitchen to reheat the meatloaf, there was nary a piece of aluminum foil, much less meatloaf to be found!

We had to go out for supper. Either my husband is in cahoots with the dog, as he dislikes meatloaf from his Navy days, or local restaurants want more of our business.

A friend tabbed her MEATLOAF, and she responds---maybe a guilty conscience?

Since this early event in her career with us, we have found she is the worst sneaky food snitch we've ever had. When we leave home we put loaves of bread at least six feet high, clear all counters, tables, and ensure the pantry doors are closed, including where her dog treats are stored. Nothing happens when one of us is home, and that may be a clue.

If we forget or overlook something, we pay. Half loaves of bread including wrapper have regularly disappeared. She ate a whole package of diet Russell Stover chocolate candy (fortunately with no ill effects).

She empties wastebaskets and unlatched garbage bins. She once emptied a trashcan of coffee grinds and filters, slinging the wet filters with grinds everywhere, cabinets, chairs and floor of one room. She must have had a great time.

We can live with the snitching, but I draw the line to her hunting skills of chipmunks and rabbits, especially her bringing them in the house to share with us.